A ten team league in the 1920s, the NHL had a period of retrenchment in the wake of the Great Depression, losing in succession the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Maroons to financial pressures. The New York Americans - one of the league's original expansion franchises, with the Bruins and Maroons - lasted longer, but World War II provided its own economic pressures, as well as severely depleting the league's Canadian player base with wartime pressures. The Americans suspended operations in the fall of 1942, leaving the NHL with six remaining teams. Despite various efforts to expand further post-War, including attempted restarts of the Maroons' and Americans' franchises, league membership would remain at those six teams for the next twenty-five seasons.

And the Chicago Blackhawks didn't do too badly. Wikipedia notes their success.

A ten team league in the 1920s, the NHL had a period of retrenchment in the wake of the Great Depression, losing in succession the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Maroons to financial pressures. The New York Americans - one of the league's original expansion franchises, with the Bruins and Maroons - lasted longer, but World War II provided its own economic pressures, as well as severely depleting the league's Canadian player base with wartime pressures. The Americans suspended operations in the fall of 1942, leaving the NHL with six remaining teams. Despite various efforts to expand further post-War, including attempted restarts of the Maroons' and Americans' franchises, league membership would remain at those six teams for the next twenty-five seasons.

And the Chicago Blackhawks didn't do too badly. Wikipedia notes their success.